Banning newly qualified young motorists from driving at night could save hundreds of lives a year.

A university study also suggests roads would be safer if young drivers were stopped from carrying passengers of a similar age and totally banned from drinking alcohol.

The idea for "graduated driver licensing" for people aged 17 to 24 could save 200 lives a year and lead to 14,000 fewer casualties, 1,700 of them serious, the study says.

Similar schemes already exist in New Zealand, Australia and parts of the USA. One scheme in California led to a 40% decrease in teenage passenger deaths and injuries.

Dr Sarah Jones, who led the research, said: "One-infive new drivers crashes within the first six months.

"By targeting them with graduated driver licensing many accidents might be avoided. It works in other countries and there's no good reason why it wouldn't work here." The Cardiff University study, being presented to the World Safety Conference in London this week, was compiled after analysing road accident data from 2000 to 2007.

Road deaths in the UK have fallen to an all-time low. But 2,222 people still died last year. Many fatal accidents happen at night with newly qualified drivers, and often with a car-load of young passengers.

However Andrew Howard, head of road safety at the AA, said graduated driver licensing would be difficult to enforce. He added: "It could penalise those who work at night and need to drive."

The Transport Department said a new element will be added to the driving test next month, allowing candidates to demonstrate their ability to drive safely in more realistic situations.

A spokesman added: "We are considering what other steps we can take to improve safety for new drivers. In doing so we need to ensure we do not penalise responsible young people."